Galatasaray fans greet Man Utd

Manchester United players were met by angry Galatasaray fans upon arrival at Ataturk Airport in Turkey on Monday night.

The English side were forced to leave the building through a separate terminal after their arrival was greeted by almost 1000 fans, who attempted to force their way through to the team.

Sir Alex Ferguson has previous experience of the frenzied atmosphere that awaits his side at Ali Sami Yen stadium and he was glad to have avoided the Galatasaray fans' welcome this time around, ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash.

"We didn't get the greeting by the fans this time - we dodged that," Ferguson said.

"In 1993, when we came here, it was incredible. It was something new and quite frightening but we've been here a few times since and we're getting used to the Turkish fanaticism and enthusiasm. It's no issue for us."

Police were forced to disperse the crowd with tear gas, after which Galatasaray football director Abdurrahim Albayrak called for calm among the supporters.

"In every aspects, we are a top-class club. We had to welcome our opponents warmly, not in that way," the club official told fans.